Physio works at York Teaching Hospital

Physiotherapists and patients at York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust are supporting a national awareness campaign which aims to promote how ‘Physio Works.’

There are 221 physiotherapists at the Trust working across 10 hospital sites and out in the community. Their work is invaluable to thousands of patients. Last year alone physiotherapists delivered 83,493 inpatient treatments to patients at York Hospital.

This week, to coincide with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy National Conference, staff and patients are celebrating and promoting the work of its physiotherapists and the crucial role that they play in helping patients back to health.  

Staff have been gathering patient case studies which showcase how much physiotherapy does indeed work. The team will be promoting some of the lesser well known areas of the work they do, for example with children, stroke patients and women’s health.  

Victoria Adams, Professional Lead for Physiotherapy at the Trust, explained: “Physiotherapy Works is a three year programme supported by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy aimed at increasing demand for physiotherapy services by highlighting how physiotherapy can help people live better and longer, prevent ill health, and get people out of hospital and back to work quickly after illness.

“We want everyone to know that physiotherapy-led rehabilitation really works helping patients recover quickly and safely. It keeps older people independent at home and helps people with long term conditions maximise their abilities as well as reducing costs in health and social care.

“Many people have heard of physiotherapy working with musculo-skeletal and sports injuries, but we also wanted to highlight our services working with children, women’s health, amputees, falls and hip fractures, stroke, cardiac rehabilitation and respiratory diseases to name but a few.

“As part of the campaign, many of our patients have come forward to share their stories about how physiotherapy has worked for them, helping them recover quickly and get back to living a fulfilled life. It has been great to listen to these stories and to celebrate the work of our department.”

In 2014/2015:

• Acute Elderly Medicine Physiotherapy Services at York Hospital saw 6,465 new patients

• The Paediatric Physiotherapy Team in York delivered 4,401 treatments to children

• Our Community Stroke Early Discharge Team Physiotherapists delivered 3,194 treatments to patients at home

• Our combined Musculo-Skeletal Physiotherapy services in York delivered 71,642 outpatient treatments

• The Paediatric Physiotherapy Team in Scarborough delivered 2,540 treatments to children

• In total physiotherapists delivered  83,493 in-patient treatments to patients on various wards at York Hospital

12 October 2015